At RAI in Amsterdam, D66 members gather for their party congress, the first after the provincial elections. The agenda includes a multitude of topics: from a more flexible nitrogen policy and the course of the governing coalition to cooperation with PvdA and GroenLinks and the abolition of the monarchy. On the latter there is a certain answer, the majority is in favor of maintaining that institution.
D66 has a lot to discuss and evaluate after the devastating defeat in the provincial elections. Shouldn’t we be more flexible with the 2030 nitrogen deadline? Should there be more cooperation with the “left cloud” of PvdA and GroenLinks? The course of the governing coalition is also under discussion. After the 2021 election, D66 initially didn’t want to govern again with VVD, CDA and ChristenUnie, but the party started negotiations anyway. The result was a coalition deal that D66 agreed to at the time, but some topics are still up for discussion.
Discord
For example, there are not only disputes over the approach to nitrogen, but D66, together with ChristenUnie, is now also diametrically opposed to the other two coalition parties in the asylum dossier. The discussion about the abolition or not of the royal house also flared up. Although D66 on paper favors ceremonial kingship without a political role for the king, former party leader Alexander Pechtold recently called on members to agree to a proposal to abolish it.
Young Democrats
According to the youth wing of the Young Democrats, the monarchy is “long past its expiration date and that is why we as the Young Democrats support abolition as soon as possible”. However, the majority voted against a motion stating that the party was in favor of abolition.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
